Synchronized sound and photography



June 30, 1931. H. w. ROGERS SYNCHRONIZED SOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Oct. 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwwmtoc h. Raaces June 30, 1931. H. w. ROGERS 1,812,449

SYNCHRONIZED SOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Oct. 31. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 dew a;

Patented June 30. 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRISON W. ROGERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SYNCHRONIZED SOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHY Application filed October 31, 1928. Serial No. 316,197.

what is known as a double phonograph or sound reproducing machine is connected to be operated in sync-hronism with either one of two motion picture projectors, the synchronizing mechanism of which is connected through a clutch device to both projectors so that when one is operated the other will be operated without affecting or being affected by the other projector, thus providing a device of this character which is especially adapted for use in the present projecting booths of the various entertaining establishments so that it is unnecessary to provide an individual sound reproducing unit with each projector.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character in which the two projectors are readily controlled one at the right hand and the other at the left-hand side of the sound reproducing machine, and whereby the starting of one in no way influences the starting of the other and which, in the event of both projectors being operated simultaneously, would in no way deleteriously affect the sound reproducing mechanism or the synchronizers.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the comination and arrangements of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes iri'the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the claims without. departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan and diagrammatic view of the complete mechanism;

Figure 2 is a detail view of one of the synchronizers;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the clutch mechanisms used forjconnecting the synchronizer operating mechanism with. its respective projector; and

Figure 4 is a sectional part of one of the sound reproducing machines with the pick-up and switch.

Figure 5 is a top plan View thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 5 and 5 designate the respective projectors which are here shown as operated through the adjustable and automatic control mechanism 7 and 7. These mechanisms as here shown are provided with the switches 8-8, so that the respective motors M or M may be operated, with the governors 50 -50 to control and regulate the speed delivered to the projector.

Disposed between the two projectors 5-5 is a casing 10 for the double phonograph or "sound reproducing mechanism, which, as here shown, is provided with the two record-carrying'platforms 11, 11' and operated in such a manner that one platform is only rotated at V a time, the same having its individual motor M-M, controlled from the circuit, as indicated in Figure 1.

Mounted within the casing 10 are the two synchronizing'devices 12 and 12, the detail construction of which is shown in Fig. 2 and is particularly set forth-in my co-pending application, Serial No. 316,788, filed November 2, 1928; and journaled within this casing is a shaft 13 which is adapted to operate one side of said synchronizer, while its respective motor or M 0 rates the opposite side.

Carried upon t e opposite ends of theshaft 13 exteriorly of the casing 10 are the slidable clutch members 14 and 14' and through the means of which the respective projectors 5 or 5 will rotate theshaft 13, there being mounted upon the respective shafts 17, 17? connected to and driven from the projector mechanisms the fixed clutch member 16, 16", the detail of which is clearly shown in Figure 3. i i

The member 14, as shown in F' 3, is provided with the teeth 15 adapte to cooperate with the teeth 15' of the member 16, and as there shown, when the shaft 17 is driven by its projector 5 in the direction-of the arrow, as illustrated in Figure 1, the teeth will transmit motion to the shaft 13, but

' should the shaft 17 be stationary, and the opposite projector rotate the shaft 13, the member 14 will be slid against the action of the spring 22 upon its splined carrying member 19 which is fixed to the shaft 17 so that the shaft 17, 17' will not be affected by the operation of the opposite projector.

By this means an automatic engaging and releasing clutch is provided and no manual action is necessary to stop the clutch action of the projector 5 if the projector 5 is operated, or vice versa, and due to the fact that the sound reproducing machine is located between the two projectors, the operator is in ready access to all members andcan place the records upon the platform 11-11', and manipulate the various mechanisms, so that there will be no intermission in the operation from one projector to the other.

As illustrated in Figure 1, one preferred form of circuit is shown, the magnets 22 and 23 being provided in the respective mechanisms 7 and 7' so that the synchronizer 12 or 12' will automatically manipulate the same so that either one of the motors M or M will control the speed of the motor of its respective mechanism 7 or 7 to, in turn, slow down or accelerate the s ed of its respective projector. There is a soprovided in this circuit a film controlled switch 25-26, (as shown in my U. S. Patent No. 1,254,436, dated J anuary 22, 1918), which, in turn, controls the electro-magnets 27 and 28 of the synchronizer for connecting and disconnecting the respective record-carrying platforms 11 or 11' to operate its portion of "the synchronizer, thus insuring the connection of the respective record platform at the desired time so that synchronized sound and photography can be simultaneously produced, each projector being provided with one of the film-control devices so that the sound record-carrying platforms 11-11' may be individually 0on5 trolled by either projector during the rendition. a I

The circuit for controlling the electro-magnets 27 and 28 includes the selecting switch S, which connects either film controlled switch 25 or 26 for operation, and when the switch25 is connected, the circuit includes the contact 25, the conductor 33, the switch S, the conductor 34, the magnet 27 of the platform 11 and the magnet 28 of the platform 11' (thus connecting the platform 11 with the synchronize'r and disconnecting platform 11' from its synchronizer) the conductor 35, the

j the gearf66 on the shaft 67, the gears 68 and; 76 are rotated. Thus both gears 76 and 77 switch Stand the conductor 38. This action energizes the electro magnet and causes the armature lock 73 to be attracted which, in

turn, moves the lever 72 against its spring 74 and throws the clutch member 71 to engage the dutch memberl68, which, through the sleeve 69,- rotates the gear and its large gear 77. As the motor driven shaft of the platform -11 operatesthe gear 65, and also are rotated o positely gears 80 a di erential.

As the gears 80 are mounted upon the arms 81, and such arms are connected by the sleeve 82 to the shaft 83, the circuit controlling the segment 84 and the switches 85 and 85 are controlled, and as long as the speeds of the motors M and M are in proper predetermined speed ratio, the segment 84 is in a fixed position, but as the speed of the motor M increases, the segment is biased and the switches 85 operated, as in my companion application heretofore mentioned, to regulate and control the speed, that is, accelerate or retard, the projector. This is done as here shown by energizing either one of the electro-magnets 22 or 23, the first to retardand the latter to accelerate, or vice versa, as may be desired.

The switch S is to control the operation of the electro-magnets 22 and 23 of either projector, and when thrown to the left, places the contacts 85 in position to control those of the projector 5. Thus, to energize the electro-magnet 22 the switch 85 is closed and includes the conductor 44, the switch S, the conductor 45, the electro-magnet 22, the conductor 49, another member of the switch S, and the conductor 48; while to energize the ele'ctro-magnet 23,'the switch 85 is closed and includes'the conductor 44; the switch S, conductor 45, electro-magnet 23, the conductor 46, another member of the switch S, and the conductor 47.-

In order to supply electric current to opera'te the motors, a generator or other source G is employed, and when the switch 8 is and produce with the closed, the circuit includes the generator G,

the conductor 39, the motor M, and the conductor 43, while when the switch 8 is closed, I

the circuit includes the generator G, the conductorsi 39, and 39, the motor M and the conductors 43 and 43.

The circuit to o erate eithermotor M or M is the same and 0th motors are run simultaneously, there being means provided for connecting and disconnecting the platformsrecord R, the swinging pick up arm .51 or 51 is employed. Each arm, as shown, is connected the head 61 carried by the pivoted stud .30 in the base 59, said base being attached to the frame '10 and there being one to each of the turntables 11'-'-11.

A spring 62 is disposed between the head 61 upon the stud 60 so as to normally move the sleeve 63 and its arm 63 clockwise as viewed in Figure and connected to but in- 5 sulated from the arm is the contact 52 which,

in turn, is connected to one side of the pickup. An adjusting screw 54 is mounted in a bracket 54 fixedly attached to and insulated from the base 59 and carries a spring contact 53, to which is led a wire that connects the amplifying panel and the source 55 so that the pick-up will be connected in circuit therewith. By this means, the pick-up can be placed on the record, and as the sound rendi- 5 tion is to be effected, say, when the platform is revolved three revolutions, the screw 54 is adjusted to place the contact 53 so that when the pick-up and the arm with its sleeve 63 has been moved by the phonic groove, the width of'three grooves, the contacts 53 and 52 will engage and the amplifying circuit will be closed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it is evident that with this arrangement the operation of producing synchronized pictures is greatly reduced in that two projectors are so connected with the sound reproducing mechanisms so as not to interfere one with the other, and at the same time is provided with automatic clutching devices which permit the connecting or disconnecting automatically of the desired projector with the synchronizer supported in the casing of the sound reproducing machine, thus rendering it unnecessary for the operator to manually control the clutches or to leave one projecting machine and go to another, as is the present practice where the sound record operating member is an individual element connected to and operated adjacent to its respective projector, and, therefore, necessitating the operator to walk around from one machine to the opposite side of the other and rendering it impossible for a single operator to produce a continuous performance.

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of two motor driven motion picture projectors, a soimd reproducing machine having a driving motor, said latter machine being interposed between the two,

\ motion picture projectors, a synchronizing 55 device, a common shaft drive from one side thereof, two one way clutches one to each projec r connecting the projectors to said shaft said clutches being of the type that when one is being driven by the projector the other clutch is free or in reverse, and means connecting the motor of the sound reproducing machine to the other side of the synchronizing device.

2. In an apparatus of the char actor de- 05 scribed, two motor driven motion'picture projectors, a motor driven sound reproducing machine interposed between the two, a synchronizing device, a common shaft drive from one side thereof, and two one way clutches, one to each projector for connecting both projectors to said shaft whereby one clutch will be free while one projector is running or is operated at a greater speed than the other projector.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, two motion picture projectors, two electrical motors, one to drive each projector, manually controlled means for regulating the speed of said projectors, a sound reproducing machine interposed between the two projectors, an electric motor for driving said sound reproducing machine, a synchronizing device, a common shaft drive from one side thereof, two normally engaged clutches one at each end of said shaft and for connecting both of said projectors to said shaft and whereby said shaft can be driven by either projector, and whereby one projector at a time can be operated and operate through its means for connecting the synchronizing device with either one of the motors of the pro jectors, and means connecting the motor of the sound reproducing machine to the other side of the synchronizing device, whereby the speed of the motor of the operating projector is regulated by the motor of the sound reproducing machine through the synehronizing device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRISON W. ROGERS. 

